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A review by seattlefraggle
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami
5.0
There's no way I can review this book objectively so I'm just giving it 5 stars. I have been profoundly in love with Murakami's writing for so many years. Now to be living in Japan and have the opportunity to read his newest book, ensconced on my balcony overlooking Tokyo Tower, well...it's truly a dream come true. Having such a clear picture in my mind of all the locations was a surreal delight and it made this a 5 star reading experience regardless of the content. I especially loved the moment when our hero Tsukuru spends time in Shinjuku station wondering about Matsumoto City - what it's like there, what do the people do? I have a strange love for that charming city, in fact, I prefer to take my guests there over Kyoto. I find it less overwhelming, cozier, easier to take in on a short visit.
I was touched by Tsukuru's train nerdery too. I confess I have a touch of the train otaku in me, and he even rides my line in the story! One evening at Ebisu station he leaves his lady for the Hibiya line while she heads upstairs to for the JR station. I just made that very trek this afternoon. Seven years ago when I was reading my first Murakami novel and coming across descriptions of exotic sounding locales with names like "Shibuya" the picture in my head was a completely alien landscape. It is a wonderfully bizarre and entirely unexpected pleasure to have spent 2 years traversing this city - to know precisely what Murakami is talking about in a deeper way.
It needs to be said too that this edition is particularly lovely. I can't even bring myself to bust open the sticker pack and deface the stunning minimalism of the cover, but it's a nice touch. Creative, weird, kinda funny, super Japanese-y. I love it.
As far as the story goes, it's not Murakami's strongest title, but if you like bearing witness to his particular artistry, especially the older stuff, you'll probably dig it. Likewise if you're over Murakami's signature style (or was never on board to begin with and think he's an overhyped hack) you won't be turned on by this one. But I just really, quietly enjoyed it. I even think it's one I'lI pick up again in the future - if only to recall that awesome time in my life when I lived in Japan.
I was touched by Tsukuru's train nerdery too. I confess I have a touch of the train otaku in me, and he even rides my line in the story! One evening at Ebisu station he leaves his lady for the Hibiya line while she heads upstairs to for the JR station. I just made that very trek this afternoon. Seven years ago when I was reading my first Murakami novel and coming across descriptions of exotic sounding locales with names like "Shibuya" the picture in my head was a completely alien landscape. It is a wonderfully bizarre and entirely unexpected pleasure to have spent 2 years traversing this city - to know precisely what Murakami is talking about in a deeper way.
It needs to be said too that this edition is particularly lovely. I can't even bring myself to bust open the sticker pack and deface the stunning minimalism of the cover, but it's a nice touch. Creative, weird, kinda funny, super Japanese-y. I love it.
As far as the story goes, it's not Murakami's strongest title, but if you like bearing witness to his particular artistry, especially the older stuff, you'll probably dig it. Likewise if you're over Murakami's signature style (or was never on board to begin with and think he's an overhyped hack) you won't be turned on by this one. But I just really, quietly enjoyed it. I even think it's one I'lI pick up again in the future - if only to recall that awesome time in my life when I lived in Japan.